42 New Hunting Spots Open: FWS Boosts Refuge Access in 2025
Published Date: 5/15/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is opening or expanding hunting and fishing at 17 wildlife and fish hatchery stations, including brand-new opportunities at Southern Maryland Woodlands and North Attleboro. These changes affect outdoor lovers by adding 42 new chances to hunt or fish on over 87,000 acres starting in 2025. Plus, Minnesota’s Tamarac Refuge is ending an early teal hunt to keep things safe and simple, while all rules get a clearer, easier-to-understand makeover.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
42 new hunt & fish opportunities
The Service proposes to open or expand hunting and sport fishing at 16 National Wildlife Refuge System stations and 1 National Fish Hatchery station, creating 42 new opportunities across more than 87,000 acres beginning in 2025. You (hunters and anglers) may have more places and dates to hunt or fish on Service lands and waters because of these changes.
Tamarac ends 5‑day early teal hunt
Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota proposes to end an experimental 5-day early teal hunt where the refuge overlaps Tribal land to ensure safety for wild rice harvesting and to align with State of Minnesota regulations. If you hunt in that area, the early teal hunting opportunity would no longer be available under this proposal.
Rules rewritten to be clearer
The Service proposes administrative changes to station-specific regulations to improve clarity, reduce the regulatory burden on the public, and comply with a Presidential plain-language mandate. You may find the refuge-specific hunting and fishing rules easier to read and follow after these changes.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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